March 27, 2011

By Wes Todd
Assistant Media Relations Director

BROWNS SUMMIT, N.C. – On a day when no team came within 17 strokes of par and no player found red numbers, South Carolina held steady and moved up two spots to finish in a tie for ninth place at the Bryan National Collegiate, which wrapped up Sunday at the Bryan Park Champions Course. Carolina recorded rounds of 305-305-319=929 (+65) to tie Louisville for ninth place and finish ahead of three ranked squads.

“Today was a really tough day for everyone,” head coach Kalen Anderson said. “It was freezing the last two days, but even more so today. We got a lot of rain last night, and the conditions were tough. Everybody out there was just trying to survive; the day kind of wore on everybody. I’m not completely pleased with our finish, but we hung in there and battled the best we could. We didn’t lose any ground; it really says something when you have one person break 80 and you still move up two spots. We’ve just got to get back to work and get a little better as we’re getting ready to head into the postseason.”

Despite a final-round 79 (+7), freshman Samantha Swinehart earned her third top-20 finish of the season as she tied for 12th place with a score of 73-73-79=225 (+9). It was a solid round on a day when only two players in the field managed to break 75. Starting on the back nine, she made the turn at 3-over, then moved to 4-over with a bogey at No. 1. A double-bogey at No. 5 dropped her to 6-over, but she would card her only birdie of the day at No. 7, sandwiched between bogeys at Nos. 6 and 8. Her 12th-place tie was only two shots back of a top-5 and five back of the winning score.

“Sam had an awesome tournament,” Anderson said. “Shooting 73-73 those first two days, that was pretty incredible. Twelfth place was a great finish. Her 79 today was a pretty decent round considering the conditions. It was a tough day for everybody.”

Three other Gamecocks posted scores of 80 (+8) on the day. Suzie Lee tied for 28th place at 74-77-80=231 (+15), while Amanda Strang moved up to a tie for 39th at 78-77-80=235 (+19). Katie Rose Higgins matched her first-round score on Sunday and finished at 80-83-80=243 (+27), tying for 70th place. Meredith Swanson, playing as an individual, posted rounds of 83-81-83=247 (+31) to finish in a tie for 76th place.

Junior Katie Burnett withdrew from Sunday’s final round as she was suffering from the flu, according to Anderson.

“Katie went out there and fought it as long as she could, but she finally just couldn’t take it anymore,” Anderson said. “If there’s good news to take from it, it’s that she’s not injured and she’ll be ready to go next week for Athens.”

Wake Forest held off Tennessee for a two-shot victory, posting a final-round 306 (+18) to post an 895 (+31) for the week to Tennessee’s 897 (+33). North Carolina finished third at 909 (+45). The Lady Vols’ Erica Popson had the low round of the day, carding a 73 (+1) to pull out a 1-shot victory at 220 (+4) over Wake’s Michelle Shin. Duke’s Kim Donovan and Virginia’s Portland Rosen tied for third at 222 (+6).

The Gamecocks will play their final event of the regular season next weekend as they head to Athens, Ga., for the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. The tournament runs Friday-Sunday at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

BRYAN NATIONAL COLLEGIATE – FINAL ROUND
March 27, 2011 • Browns Summit, N.C.
Bryan Park Champions Course • Par 72, 6,386 Yards

SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
T12. Samantha Swinehart – 73-73-79=225 (+9)
T28. Suzie Lee – 74-77-80=231 (+15)
T39. Amanda Strang – 78-77-80=235 (+19)
T70. Katie Rose Higgins – 80-83-80=243 (+27)
*T76. Meredith Swanson – 83-81-83=247 (+31)
–Katie Burnett – 80-78-WD
* – individual

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Wake Forest – 294-295-306=895 (+31)
2. Tennessee – 288-302-307=897 (+33)
3. North Carolina – 295-302-312=909 (+45)
4. Virginia – 296-298-316=910 (+46)
5. Duke – 301-293-317=911 (+47)
6. Vanderbilt – 299-309-305=913 (+49)
7. Florida State – 308-303-314=925 (+61)
8. Ohio State – 306-295-325=926 (+62)
T9. South Carolina – 305-305-319=929 (+65)
T9. Louisville – 303-303-323=929 (+65)
11. Michigan State – 305-302-323=930 (+66)
12. Washington – 304-305-328=937 (+73)
13. Northwestern – 307-313-321=941 (+77)
14. UNC Greensboro – 311-308-324=943 (+79)
15. NC State – 311-315-328=954 (+90)
16. UNC Wilmington – 311-328-325=964 (+100)
17. College of Charleston – 321-326-329=976 (+112)